Santa Barbara Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County Courthouse featuring a luxury hotel or resort and heritage architecture
Channel Islands National Park
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park showing a church or cathedral
Santa Barbara County Courthouse showing heritage architecture, a garden and an administrative building

Santa Barbara is a palm-lined city on the Californian coast, famous for its historic Spanish mission, wide sandy beaches and distinctly Mediterranean charm.

Sandwiched between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is a popular tourist destination on the Pacific Coast Highway. With over 300 days of sunshine each year and a warm Mediterranean climate, Santa Barbara is often called the American Riviera.

Santa Barbara attracts everyone from laid-back surfers and the young, vibrant student crowd to the well-heeled traveller and celebrity set.

The wide boulevards are lined with palms, quaint red-roofed homes and boutique hotels in old haciendas. Wander along the waterfront between Butterfly Beach and the Santa Barbara’s East and West Beaches.

Say hello to the Masai giraffes at Santa Barbara Zoo, renowned as one of the best small zoos in the US, before stopping off for a lunch on Stearns Wharf, the city's historic wooden pier lined with seafood restaurants and waterfront bars.

Take an afternoon to head north of downtown to one of the city's most iconic sights, the Mission Santa Barbara. This imposing pink-and-white church built by Spanish missionaries dates back to the 18th century and has a mission-era museum, a sacred garden and a Chumash art gallery.

Another highlight is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, a stunning Spanish Revival building with a museum and an 85-foot watch tower with sweeping views of the city and the ocean.

Thanks to its year-round temperate climate, Santa Barbara is very much an outdoor city and the many city parks, like the beachfront Chase Palm Park, encourages a healthy lifestyle. Head south to Carpinteria, a sleepy beach town famous for its world-class surf beaches. Or go west to Goleta, home of the University of California's Santa Barbara campus, and the city's airport.

Santa Barbara's famed celebrity set lives in the stylish beachfront suburb of Montecito, where you’ll see gated estates, hip neighbourhood restaurants, and the quirky Lotusland botanical gardens, once owned by Madame Ganna Walska, an eccentric Polish opera singer. Book ahead and take a guided tour around these fascinating gardens which include over 900 rare cycads, fruit orchards and a life-size topiary zoo.

Santa Barbara County is an easy region to explore. It has a reliable bus network across the city and to the beaches, as well as out to the suburbs. Or hop on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train, a coastal service which heads to Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley, known as Santa Barbara wine country.

After a day of exploring Santa Barbara's old missions, art galleries and designer shopping malls, or hanging out on the beach, head downtown to State Street and the many SoCal bars and restaurants.

Santa Barbara is an ideal destination for a few days en route along the scenic Californian coast, or to use as a base for a longer stay exploring the wine country and mountain region. Santa Barbara has a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from budget hotels and inns to swanky five-star beach resorts.

Where to stay in Santa Barbara

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Montecito

5/5(4 area reviews)

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

Montecito
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Santa Barbara Beach

4.5/5(67 area reviews)

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Stearns Wharf and MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.

Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara featuring a coastal town

Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Santa Barbara County Courthouse might round out your trip.

Downtown Santa Barbara
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East Beach

4.5/5(18 area reviews)

East Beach is beloved for its stunning beaches. Take some time to explore sights in the area like East Beach and Santa Barbara Zoo.

East Beach
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West Beach

If you're spending some time in West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Carriage Museum are top sights worth seeing.

West Beach
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The Mesa

While visiting The Mesa, you might make a stop by sights like Leadbetter Beach and Arroyo Burro Beach.

The Mesa
Sandpiper Lodge

Sandpiper Lodge

2 out of 5
3525 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is £120 per night from 5 Aug to 6 Aug
£120
5 Aug - 6 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,706 reviews)
"For the price this hotel was terrific for a nights stay driving down the coast"

Reviewed on 28 Jul 2025

Sandpiper Lodge
The Milo

The Milo

3.5 out of 5
202 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is £192 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
£192
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star beach hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,406 reviews)
"Wonderful property. We stayed at rooms 152 and 158, and they were excellent. Not sure of other rooms. These were renovated. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Also, they have complementary bikes, beach toys, boggie boards, etc."

Reviewed on 28 Jul 2025

The Milo
Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

3.5 out of 5
4111 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
The price is £198 per night from 13 Aug to 14 Aug
£198
13 Aug - 14 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Free breakfast. Parking garage. Large hotel rooms. Pleasant staff. We enjoyed our stay!"

Reviewed on 25 Jul 2025

Hyatt Place Santa Barbara
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Casa Jardin

Casa Jardin

2.5 out of 5
1018 Garden St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (188 reviews)
"Great experience"

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Casa Jardin
Tide Pool Villas

Tide Pool Villas

4.5 out of 5
26 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa ...
6/10 (71 reviews)
Quick trip
"Check in process is very slow and our room was not ready Beautiful property and great location"

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Tide Pool Villas
Casa Riviera

Casa Riviera

4 out of 5
800 Garden St, Santa Barbara, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Santa Barbara. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and Netflix. Popular attractions Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Zoo are ...
10/10 Exceptional! (10 reviews)
"Classic Santa Barbara exterior with contemporary interior. Very clean, lovely view of Santa Barbara hills from balcony. Comfortable bed with fluffy comforter. Nespresso w/pods a nice touch. Mini kitchen w/refrigerator & microwave. A couple blocks from State St. Everything in "like new" ..."

Reviewed on 27 Jul 2025

Casa Riviera
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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